Game apparatus



mammal. I

' L; NANG GAME APPARA No. 464,035. Patented Dec. 1', 1891.

TATES UNHE LEE NANCE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEIV JERSEY.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,035, dated December 1, 1891. Application filed February 26, 1891- Serial No. 382,927- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEE NANCE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City, county'of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to game apparatus; and my object is the production of an inexpensive and simple apparatus of this class with which a game requiring the skillful handling of a cue can be played.

My invention consists in the combination, with a rectangular open-top inclosure having an opening in one side, of a series of balls closely fitting the said inclosure.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a perspective view of the different parts of my apparatus, the balls being in position in the receptacle.

- in the drawing the length of the receptacle slightly exceeds the width in order to accommodate the eighteen balls by arranging them alternately in three rows of four balls-each and two rows of three balls each, whereby the balls rest in the closest order possible. Each of sixteen balls may bear a suitable character, if desired, as a numeral; but two (X and Y) should bear distinctive marks of their own or be differently colored from the others, if preferred.

0 indicates a cue for use in driving the balls out through the opening a. This cue may be made of wood, celluloid, ivory, or other suitable material, and is preferably constructed of a tapering form, as shown.

With the receptacle and balls of the relative proportions described and arranged as illustrated it will be seen that the first ball can be ejected by the one only by causing it to carom on the corner of the opening a, and

also that both of the balls nearthe opening cannot be simultaneously ejected, owing to the width of the opening being less than the diameter of the two balls. After the first ball,

as 1, is ejected the next, as 2, can be readily forced out, and then ball 3. Another ball, however, as 4, cannot be ejected without causing it to carom on another ball or the interior of the walls of the receptacle. In the progressive ejection of the balls, therefore, whether taken by the one in aregular order or at random, it will invariably be found that more Or less carom shots must be made.

An explanation of one way of playing the game is as follows: For two players, each selects a marked ball and the two are placed equal distances from the opening, and the player having the first turn attempts to drive a ball out through the opening by means of the cue, which may beheld like a pen or pen oil, and as long as he does not fail to drive a ball out with one blow and does not strike or move the box with the one or with his hands his turn continues. When he moves, or moves or touches the box, his turn passes, and the player who first ejects his own marked ball wins the game. If the marked ball of an opposing player is ejected, it must be placed back again and at any point the player chooses to place it.

If the game is to be played for the numerical count of the balls, the first ball ejected counting one, the next ball counting two, and so on up, the last (excepting the marked balls) counting sixteen, a total of one hundred and thirty-six points may be made. In so playing the game is won by the player whose count is the greatest after all of the balls are out; and if the game is for amajority of the balls only the player wins, of course, who ejects the largest number.

The most difficult feat is to eject the eight een balls in one run orinning, each ball being touched but once by the cue and the recep tacle being unmoved by the hands or the cue, the difficulty resulting from the rectangular form of the box or receptacle and the fact that the balls, when all are in, fit the receptacle closely.

If it is desired that the walls of the receptacle shall be resilient, a cushion or elastic lining may be applied to the whole or to por tions of the interior thereof, as indicated at a lhe receptacle may have its length and width equal and just accommodate sixteen balls, of which two will be distinctively marked, and the size of the receptacle and balls may vary in proportion, so that the former will closely accommodate a greater or lesser number of balls, as may be desired.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a rectangular open-top receptacle having an opening in the Wall thereof, of a series of balls closely fitting the receptacle, substantially as described.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination, with a rectangular open-top receptacle having an opening in the Wall thereof, of a series of eighteen balls, the diameter of each ball equaling one-fourth of the Width of the receptacle, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the receptacle A, having cushioned Walls and an opening a therein, of the balls B, the diameter of each of which is equal to one-fourth of the Width of the receptacle and the Width of the opening a, being slightly less than one-half the Width of the receptacle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of February, 1891.

LEE NANCE. Witnesses:

WM. (3. IIAUFF, GEORGE TREFOER. 

